I guess the first thing I should say about the Kingsized Holiday Jubilee with Kingsized and the Dames Aflame is that it is held in the Little Five Points (L5P) area of Atlanta. Brought to our attention by our friends Lucius and Danielle, think of this show as a family friendly Christmas pageant with a hint of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. The show was fabulous, but you knew early on that it teetered towards the bizarre. But first, dinner.
No trip to L5P is complete without trying one of the restaurants before the show. Our choice this trip was the Euclid Avenue Yacht Club. Timing was perfect; they were celebrating their 9th Annual Euclid Avenue Yacht Club Gingerbread Trailer Park Competition and they judged the ten or twelve ginger bread house selections while we were there.
As another nod to L5P, you had to know that the ginger bread houses bordered (or actually crossed) into the land of bizarre. Oh, and the restaurant had great food, but the real story here were the ginger bread houses and the competition.
Upon entering the Variety Playhouse you are immediately entertained by “Puddles” and his Puddles Pity Party, kind of a sad sack drinking clown who has probably (hopefully) seen better days. He is a bit edgy, scary and funny. Actually played by Big Mike Geier, the show lead, the tone is set early for the show to follow. And what’s not to love about getting your picture taken with Santa and one of his helpers. By the way, the event is a big toy and fundraiser for the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots children’s charity.
The show was 100% Christmas and holiday tunes – replete with a sugar plum fairy. Krampus, the Anti-Santa was crusty, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer was, well, Rudolph, the Dames Aflame were just great, and the band – they were fabulous!! And of course Big Mike Geier is a born showman – really terrific.
Throughout the show local high school Marine ROTC volunteers collected toys and donations. This is a one show a year performance so you will have to wait until next year. But if this kind of thing strikes your fancy this is a great show to catch. And you have to love a show that is small and intimate enough to get your picture taken with the cast. Happy Holidays!!
